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Greenway
Park stage
completed

THE STAGE AT Greenway Park stands complete and ready for community performances.

Banner photo, JOYANNA LOVE

Posted
Saturday, June 13, 2015 10:06 pm

JOYANNA LOVE
Banner Senior Staff Writer

Cleveland's latest outdoor venue was officially finished Friday night when members of the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway cut a ribbon on the Greenway Park stage.

Greenway chairman Cameron Fisher said the finishing touches on the electricity were completed earlier that day.

"We want to thank Bob and Susan Card for funding this entire stage. I would also like to thank the Men and Women of Action, because they have been very integral in this entire park," Fisher said.

He emphasized the work of Men and Women of Action had saved thousands of dollars on all of the projects at Greenway Park.

Other projects included the playground, the restrooms and the pavilion.

The Stage At Greenway Park saw a lot of action even before its official ribbon cutting. It served as the performance stage during “Groovin’ on the Greenway” and hosted community musicians.

The first performer to take to the stage after the ribbon cutting was “American Idol” runner-up Clark Beckham.

Beckham is a Lee University graduate. This was his first performance in Cleveland since competing on the show.

Fisher recognized Harry Dale as one of the volunteers who had been on site for The Stage project everyday.

“With the growing popularity of Greenway Park, talk emerged more than a year ago to build an outdoor stage that could accommodate thousands of people,” Fisher stated. “The Allied Arts Council recognized the need and approached the Greenway Board about the possibilities of it being housed in what is now Greenway Park. At the time, the city did not own the property. Following the donation of the green space between the Greenway and the former First Tennessee Bank location to the city, discussions ramped up about not only a stage, but an overall master plan for the area.”

The Allied Arts Council helped to develop the design for the stage.

The location of the stage was originally planned for closer to the pavilion, but the plan was changed to allow multiple events to be held at the park at the same time.

According to a press release, “In 2013, Bob Card, owner of Sunrise Acceptance and Easy Auto, donated the funds to build the Greenway Park pavilion which was dedicated last October. At the event, Card learned of plans for a greenway stage and expressed an interest in donating funds toward its realization. Based in part upon the voluntary workmanship of MWOA, Card donated the entire $70,000 budget for the stage project.”

“Obviously, the generous donation from Bob and Susan Card was the catalyst for us being able to build the stage sooner rather than later,” Fisher related. “Their gift sets an example of creative ways to improve our community. The Cards’ donation was an unexpected blessing that allowed us to concentrate our resourcefulness on concept and design rather than fund raising for this project. It clearly gave us this venue at least a year sooner than we originally anticipated.”

Men and Women of Action donated their time to complete the project. The stage was designed to match the architecture of the existing pavilion.

The stage can be reserved through the City Parks and Recreation Department.